YMSB | 08.28 | Red Rocks
By Team JamBase Sep 14, 2009 • 11:00 am PDT

Yonder Mountain String Band :: 08.28.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO
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This night was all about Yonder, make no mistake, but having never seen Xavier Rudd (with or without his stellar new band) before, I had a little extra excitement within me about the opener. I’ve heard many good things about the multi-instrument-playing, didgeridoo-wailing, positive-vibe-producing gentleman, and I was not disappointed. Coming onstage around 7:15 p.m., with plentiful sunshine and pleasant temperatures as a fitting backdrop, Rudd and his band were received warmly by the half-full venue. The hour-long set was a beautiful display of indigenous Australian sounds and multi-layered African beats. The music created by the trio was varied and unique, methodic and funky, organic and earthy. A fun moment came when Rudd brought his two young children onstage. The little ones proceeded to breakdance, provide backing vocals and ignite the crowd before the headliners took control.
With Red Rocks full to capacity, YMSB arrived onstage around 9 p.m. The three-hour, two-set panoply was a boot-scootin’ boogie of a hoe-down. I’m fully aware of how corny that description sounds, but it’s honestly what it was. Bearing witness to a sold out Red Rocks (10,000 strong) dancing their asses off for a bluegrass band was a unique experience and it was clear everyone in attendance was feeling it.
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Jeff Austin is known for his rapport with the crowd, and this night was a fine example of that. As the band walked onstage for the start of the second set, Austin commented on the weather: “It’s such a beautiful night tonight, we’re gonna play a couple rain songs for ya,” as the fellas stepped into “Illinois Rain” and “Rain Still Falls.” “Complicated,” a great song off the new album followed. Adam Aijala was able to showcase his almost Flamenco-style guitar work during the song, which seems to praises hope and patience.
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As a friend and I were having a beer after the show and discussing what had transpired and delighted us: Austin’s beautiful use of his “mandolin distortion machine;” Kaufmann’s constant, groovy, thick bass runs; the band’s ability to play traditional bluegrass and then take those traditions and morph them into an all out jam session with no walls or ceiling; the calm comfortable stage presence of all four guys; YMSB playing a sold out Red Rocks; 10,000 free copies of the new CD… and so on and so on. We settled on a term for the current state of Yonder Mountain String Band: Bluegrass Rock Stars.
Yonder Mountain String Band :: 08.28.09 :: Red Rocks Amphitheatre :: Morrison, CO
Set I: East Nashville Easter, 40 Miles From Denver, Spanish Harlem Incident, This Train Is Bound For Glory, Irondale, New Speedway Boogie > Honestly, Steep Grade Sharp Curves > Midwest Gospel Radio > Snow On The Pines > Winds On Fire > Snow On The Pines
Set II: Illinois Rain, Rain Still Falls, Complicated, Finally Saw The Light > Kentucky Mandolin > Too Late Now> Dreams, Pockets, On The Run > Ten > Girlfriend Is Better > Ten > On The Run
E: Holdin’, Raleigh & Spencer
YMSB is on tour now; dates available here.
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